Malaria: report of 12 non autochthonous cases
Pérez C, C.; Baudrand B, Ré.; Labarca L, J.; Perret P, C.; Andresen H, M.; Guzmán D, A.M.
Revista Medica de Chile 134(4): 421-425
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-9887 PMID: 16758076 Document Number: 600355
Malaria is a protozoal infection caused by four Plasmodium species which is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. Nearly 40% of the world population is at risk of acquiring the disease due to increasing resistance to antimalarial drugs, climatic changes, and travel to endemic zones. In this paper, 12 cases of malaria, documented by parasite identification on blood smear, are reported. All cases had history of travel to endemic zones (i.e., Peru, Ecuador, Central America, Africa), but only three patients had chemoprophylaxis. Seven cases were documented infections of Plasmodium vivax, whereas the other five cases were infected with P. falciparum. Of the latter five cases, three required intensive care. All patients were treated with standard antimalarial drugs according to severity and Plasmodium species, with excellent results and no mortality.